Sub headlight unit and sub headlight system for use in vehicle that leans into turns, and vehicle that leans into turns

Abstract

A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a plurality of sub headlight light sources that illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. The brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. When the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness. As the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range of the sub headlight light source having a predetermined illuminance is located increasingly farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle in a plan view.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns, the sub headlight unit comprising:
 a plurality of sub headlight light sources arranged to illuminate, at one side with respect to a width direction of the vehicle, an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle; wherein 
 a brightness of the sub headlight light source changes in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle; 
 when the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source exhibits a predetermined brightness; and 
 as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range of the sub headlight light source having a predetermined illuminance is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle in a plan view. 
 
     
     
       2. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range of the sub headlight light source having a predetermined illuminance obtained when the vehicle is in an upright state is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, a larger angle is defined in the plan view between an optical axis of the sub headlight light source and a center line of the vehicle in a front-back direction thereof. 
     
     
       4. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub headlight light sources are located at the one side of the vehicle with respect to the width direction of the vehicle, and, as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range having a predetermined illuminance generated at the one side by the sub headlight light source among the plurality of sub headlight light sources is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an illumination range of the sub headlight light source obtained when the vehicle is in an upright state is located higher; and 
 as the illumination range of the sub headlight light source is located higher, an outer edge of an illumination range having a predetermined illuminance generated by the sub headlight light source among the plurality of sub headlight light sources is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       6. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the sub headlight light source is fixed, and as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range having a predetermined illuminance generated by the sub headlight light source among the plurality of sub headlight light sources whose optical axes are fixed is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, a cut-off line of the sub headlight light source is inclined at a larger inclination angle relative to a horizontal line that is obtained when the vehicle in an upright state is seen from a front side thereof. 
     
     
       8. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein when
 the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source is turned on; and 
 as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range having a predetermined illuminance generated by the sub headlight light source at a time when the sub headlight light source is turned on is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       9. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the sub headlight light source is turned on in a full light state; and 
 as the reference value set for the sub headlight light source is greater, an outer edge of an illumination range having a predetermined illuminance generated by the sub headlight light source at a time when the sub headlight light source is turned on in the full light state is located farther outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sub headlight units are provided at the one side of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is in an upright state, the sub headlight light source having a greater reference value is located at the outer side of the sub headlight light source having a smaller reference value with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein when the vehicle is in an upright state, the sub headlight light source having a greater reference value is located higher than the sub headlight light source having a smaller reference value. 
     
     
       12. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein when the vehicle is in an upright state, the sub headlight light source having a greater reference value is located lower than the sub headlight light source having a smaller reference value. 
     
     
       13. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sub headlight light sources are arranged adjacent to one another, and when the vehicle is in an upright state, the positions of the sub headlight light sources that are adjacent to one another are partially coincident with respect to a height direction. 
     
     
       14. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein when the vehicle is in an upright state, the plurality of sub headlight light sources are arranged in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
       15. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein a front cover included in the vehicle includes a curved surface that is outwardly convex and extends from a front center portion with respect to the width direction of the vehicle in a direction rearward and outward with respect to the width direction of the vehicle, and the plurality of sub headlight light sources are arranged along the curved surface of the front cover. 
     
     
       16. The sub headlight unit according to  claim 10 , wherein when the vehicle is in an upright state, the sub headlight light source located outermost is located above a main headlight provided in the vehicle, the main headlight being configured to illuminate an area ahead in front of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A sub headlight system for use in a vehicle that leans into turns, the sub headlight system comprising:
 the sub headlight unit according to  claim 1 ; 
 a controller arranged and programmed to change the brightnesses of the plurality of sub headlight light sources in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle; and 
 a detector that detects a variable that obtains the lean angle of the vehicle; wherein 
 when the lean angle of the vehicle reaches a reference value that is individually set for each of the sub headlight light sources, the controller causes the corresponding sub headlight light source to exhibit a predetermined brightness. 
 
     
     
       18. A vehicle that leans into turns comprising:
 the sub headlight system according to  claim 17 .